Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Brief treatment of complicated PTSD and peritraumatic responses in a client with repeated sexual victimization

Publication ,  Journal Article
Messman-Moore, TL; Resick, PA
Published in: Cognitive and Behavioral Practice
January 1, 2002

The present case study describes the successful treatment of a woman with a history of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse in childhood and multiple rapes in adulthood, utilizing a relatively brief cognitive-behavioral treatment, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Treatment addressed assault-related PTSD, major depression, suicidality, compulsive self-harm behaviors, and primary and secondary dissociative responses. Treatment also addressed related issues of low self-esteem, social isolation, and the client's sense of helplessness, which had resulted in her failure to implement active self-protection strategies. Client symptomatology was tracked throughout treatment using the PTSD Symptom Scale (PSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at regular intervals over the course of 34 sessions and for 3 months posttermination. The relatively short course of therapy (22 weeks) and treatment strategies are described, including cognitive and behavioral components of CPT, supportive strategies, safety planning in the context of ongoing threats and victimization, and the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Particular emphasis is given to adaptation of the brief treatment to complex symptomatology and patterns of symptomatic change in relation to cognitive and behavioral intervention. Findings indicate that treatment for individuals with extensive victimization histories does not require different strategies or a significantly longer period of treatment than does treatment for those with a single traumatic experience.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

DOI

ISSN

1077-7229

Publication Date

January 1, 2002

Volume

9

Issue

2

Start / End Page

89 / 99

Related Subject Headings

  • Clinical Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Messman-Moore, T. L., & Resick, P. A. (2002). Brief treatment of complicated PTSD and peritraumatic responses in a client with repeated sexual victimization. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 9(2), 89–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1077-7229(02)80003-7
Messman-Moore, T. L., and P. A. Resick. “Brief treatment of complicated PTSD and peritraumatic responses in a client with repeated sexual victimization.” Cognitive and Behavioral Practice 9, no. 2 (January 1, 2002): 89–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1077-7229(02)80003-7.
Messman-Moore TL, Resick PA. Brief treatment of complicated PTSD and peritraumatic responses in a client with repeated sexual victimization. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 2002 Jan 1;9(2):89–99.
Messman-Moore, T. L., and P. A. Resick. “Brief treatment of complicated PTSD and peritraumatic responses in a client with repeated sexual victimization.” Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, vol. 9, no. 2, Jan. 2002, pp. 89–99. Scopus, doi:10.1016/S1077-7229(02)80003-7.
Messman-Moore TL, Resick PA. Brief treatment of complicated PTSD and peritraumatic responses in a client with repeated sexual victimization. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 2002 Jan 1;9(2):89–99.
Journal cover image

Published In

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

DOI

ISSN

1077-7229

Publication Date

January 1, 2002

Volume

9

Issue

2

Start / End Page

89 / 99

Related Subject Headings

  • Clinical Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology